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The disappearance forty years ago of Harriet Vanger, a young scion of one of the wealthiest families in Sweden, gnaws at her octogenarian uncle, Henrik Vanger. He is determined to know the truth about what he believes was her murder. He hires crusading journalist Mikael Blomkvist, recently at the wrong end of a libel case, to get to the bottom of Harriet's disappearance. Lisbeth Salander, a twenty-four-year-old, pierced, tattooed genius hacker, possessed of the hard-earned wisdom of someone twice her age--and a terrifying capacity for ruthlessness--assists Blomkvist with the investigation. This unlikely team discovers a vein of nearly unfathomable iniquity running through the Vanger family, an astonishing corruption at the highest echelon of Swedish industrialism--and a surprising connection between themselves.--From publisher description.Read more...

Abstract:

The disappearance forty years ago of Harriet Vanger, a young scion of one of the wealthiest families in Sweden, gnaws at her octogenarian uncle, Henrik Vanger. He is determined to know the truth about what he believes was her murder. He hires crusading journalist Mikael Blomkvist, recently at the wrong end of a libel case, to get to the bottom of Harriet's disappearance. Lisbeth Salander, a twenty-four-year-old, pierced, tattooed genius hacker, possessed of the hard-earned wisdom of someone twice her age--and a terrifying capacity for ruthlessness--assists Blomkvist with the investigation. This unlikely team discovers a vein of nearly unfathomable iniquity running through the Vanger family, an astonishing corruption at the highest echelon of Swedish industrialism--and a surprising connection between themselves.--From publisher description.

Multi Layered Mystery

I enjoyed this multi layered mystery and the well drawn characters. I too couldn't wait to get home from work so I could continue reading. In addition, I gained insight into Swedish life and culture. I'm looking forward to book two!

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Modern day Pippi

I have read this novel in Swedish only, so I don't know how this comes through in the English. My American friends don't seem to have noticed the Pippi connection. Stieg Larsson has discussed this in the Swedish press--his portrayal of Lisbeth Salander was based on the idea, what if Pippi Longstockings...Read more...

I have read this novel in Swedish only, so I don't know how this comes through in the English. My American friends don't seem to have noticed the Pippi connection. Stieg Larsson has discussed this in the Swedish press--his portrayal of Lisbeth Salander was based on the idea, what if Pippi Longstockings lived in today's Sweden? Look for this additional layer, I think the author had a lot of fun with this idea.